Europe Cannot Bet on Post-Trump US Returning to Sanity
Guardian columnist Rafael Behr argues that European nations must stop expecting the United States to return to democratic norms after Donald Trump's presidency. The article posits that Trump’s second term represents a deepening constitutional crisis, where his authoritarian tendencies clash with American democratic institutions. Behr contends that the failure of Trump’s first term to inoculate the US against tyranny means there is no guarantee a successor will restore stability or sanity. Consequently, allies like the UK and EU members face an existential security dilemma. While Europe has attempted to manage Trump through flattery and increased defense spending to deter both Moscow and Washington, these strategies are driven by fear and denial. The author warns that trusting in a eventual return to normalcy is dangerous, as the structural damage to US democracy and international trust may be permanent. Europe must therefore prepare for a future where it cannot rely on US leadership or constitutional restraint, recognizing that the transatlantic relationship has fundamentally changed.
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Europe Cannot Bet on Post-Trump US Returning to Sanity
Guardian columnist Rafael Behr argues that European nations must stop expecting the United States to return to democratic norms after Donald Trump's presidency. The article posits that Trump’s second term represents a deepening constitutional crisis, where his authoritarian tendencies clash with American democratic institutions. Behr contends that the failure of Trump’s first term to inoculate the US against tyranny means there is no guarantee a successor will restore stability or sanity. Consequently, allies like the UK and EU members face an existential security dilemma. While Europe has attempted to manage Trump through flattery and increased defense spending to deter both Moscow and Washington, these strategies are driven by fear and denial. The author warns that trusting in a eventual return to normalcy is dangerous, as the structural damage to US democracy and international trust may be permanent. Europe must therefore prepare for a future where it cannot rely on US leadership or constitutional restraint, recognizing that the transatlantic relationship has fundamentally changed.
The Guardian